The Stamp Act: A War Beneath a War By: Kelli Cochran By: Kelli Cochran

What was the Stamp Act? ► The Stamp Act was one of the first direct British taxes on American colonists. It began in November ► The Stamp Act was an act that put a tax on all legal and public documents: newspapers, pamphlets, any type of papers and even playing cards.

How did it come about? ► The French and Indian War was very expensive and the British had to pay the debts. The British government also just received a new territory- Canada. In order to pay for these debts, the British Government decided to charge a series of taxes on the American colonists.

How did it impacted the colonists? ► It was costly to the colonists because they relied heavily on written documents. ► It made the colonists angry because it was taxation on them without representation in the British Parliament.

How did the colonists react? ► The colonists protested by boycotting, burning effigies (dolls meant to look like tax collectors), burning buildings, tarring and feathering tax collectors. ► The colonists made the Stamp Act Congress who discussed how to responsibly deal with the Stamp Act. They made a document called the Deceleration of Rights and Grievances. It stated that the American colonists had as much rights as the British colonists and how unfair the taxes were.

The Outcome ► Parliament finally repealed the Stamp Act in 1766.

How does the Stamp Act relate to the topic Nationalism? ► By creating the Stamp Act Congress, the colonists formed the base of our Continental Congress. ► The colonists became more unified in their opposition to the Stamp Act which lead to a feeling of nationalism in America. ► This growing American nationalism ultimately lead to the Revolution.